We Have Truly Lost Our Minds!!!

So for some reason Lynn and I decided the kitchen counters, appliances, and some cabinets MUST be replaced before the Fairbanks arrive for their extended visit and the wedding so last week it started. There are moments I look at Lynn and wonder why I picked someone who loves to rip buildings apart and then rebuild them- I couldn't have choosen a quiet accountant or possibly a safe businessman? Okay, I admit I like the challange too of fixing the house up after we destroy it. I can't wait- I'm getting an under the counter ice maker that makes the clear ice- no more trips to the grocery store to buy "store bought ice" cause I won't use the ice maker ice- does that make me sound a little strang cause I have the feeling it does (Debbie and Marcia keep your comments to yourself!). I've been promised by my contractor- did I tell you that I have an intimate relationship with him so I know he would never lie to me- that it will be done in two weeks, but I'll allow for issues and give him three. I'll keep you posted...

More Conference Pictures

I've been meaning to post these pictures of conference weekend forever and after spending the last hour catching up on everyones blogs I decided to take a few minutes to get these up. We went the brunch after the Sunday session at The Grand and Lynn's parents came down to meet us. It is one of my favorite things to do in Salt Lake so it was a nice addition to the weekend.

Yes, as a Matter of Fact, We are Going to the Dogs!

Chelsea has been staying here this week while Dan is in ground school in Salt Lake so she went to visit him this weekend and left us with the rat dog Nellie. Trixie DOES NOT like Nellie- she's pretty sure it's another rat coming to live in the house. Then Ryan came for the weekend and since his mom Karen is out of town he brought their dog MaiTai too. Trixie DOES NOT like MaiTai- she's pretty suspecious of why she wants to smell her bottom. AND they started the kitchen today- I'll post some pictures tomorrow, but it's a pretty big mess. The granite is on the bar and the new sink is in, but the rest is a mess!! Still no baby, but Jon's finished with the first day of boards and he's still standing!

A Shout Out to Dr. Fairbanks

So tonight I honor Jon by posting this picture of him standing on top of the world- okay, so it was at the top of some volcano in Maui, but close enough. I have been feeling very bad about myself the last few days cause I've been having some hard thoughts about my son-in-law. I felt like he needed to be doing more for my pregnant daughter and that his focus wasn't on her. And then I realized- IT"S TIME FOR HIS BOARDS!! The day has come that he has sacrificed for, studied for, dreamed and worried about for the last seven years- and it will all come down to the next three days!! Shame on me for not stopping to realize that in the midst of all my worries about the new baby, the wedding, and the office that I hadn't remembered how hard the next few days will be for him! So Lynn and I will being saying lots of prayers for him and all the great guys he's made friends with over the past four years as they take their Dental Boards. And Jon, even if Lynn would have been able to pick someone out for Mandy, it would have been you!! Love you lots, we know you'll do great, Dr. Fairbanks!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHELSEA!!

So today is Chelsea's 24th birthday!! This picture is from Conference Weekend when she took the time to color and cut Whit's hair and cut both Lynn's and my hair. I'm sure the hotel wondered what we had been doing in the bathroom!! She put a great list on her blog of her 100 for her birthday-it was so fun to read!! So in honor of birthday's this year I thought I'd do "The Top Ten Reasons I'm Glad You're My Child/Spouse/Friend"

THE TOP TEN REASONS I'M GLAD CHELSEA'S MY CHILD:
10. She loves to sing out- even though she's pretty much tone-deaf
9. She always makes such positive comments on everyone's blog
8. She loves her dog (more than I love my dogs!!)
7. She always remembers to call her Grandma Waalkes and to visit her
6. She has grown into a great wife
5. She is working hard at losing weight
4. She has overcome depression
3. She is a good sister and the best auntie
2. She always makes everyones hair look great
1. Our family would not be complete without her!!!

Love you Chelsea and we hope you have a year filled with much joy, laughter, and growth!!

An Easter Mess!!

I'm sure you're wondering why the pictures of these awful looking pies are on my blog- because they are the result of a great "Lynn" moment. I made two strawberry pies, a bananna creme, and a german chocolate pie for Easter dinner at Aunt Marcia. Our fridge is very small and the one in the garage doesn't work so it was Lynn's job as I finished the pies to fit them into the fridge. He thought he was being very creative by stacking them on top of the chinese food leftovers and then on top of the milk cartons and then he ran out of room for the chocolate pie. So he did what any good builder would do- he double stacked on top of one of the straberry pies- how I'm not sure, I only witnessed the aftermath. He kept telling us all to not slam the fridge door and it would be okay, but when he opened the door later he said "Oops!" which you really never want to hear him say. I walked over and the chocolate pie had tipped into the strawberry pie and then ALL OVER THE FRIDGE. I stayed calm and no swear words were uttered cause thankfully the missionaries were standing there to go to dinner with us. It only took about 1/2 hour and a dismantling of the fridge, but we sorta saved the pies.

On a more spiritual note, my lesson for Young Women's went really well. I love Easter and all it portrays- the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for us. We placed the events of the last week in Jesus's life in order and talked about each of them. I made a packet for each girl that is called "A Fourteen Day Walk with Christ" that has a letter for each day of the next two weeks that they open in the morning and read and think about during the day. It's supposed to help them understand Christ better and to help them see that how he lived his life can help them live theirs. It also passes off about a dozen personal progress goals. I hope the girls really take the time to read and ponder the things in the letters- it was so nice cause we had a couple of girls there that rarely come so hopefully it will touch them. My sweet family stayed up till 2am to help me get them together- which is tough for Lynn. I hope you all had a joyous Easter- still waiting for our sweet baby- poor Mandy went to the doctor today and he won't start her so she's pretty down. Say a prayer for her!

Easter Bunny S'mores

A friend of Mandy's made these and she was telling me how cute they were so Whit and I decided to make them for friends, visiting teachers, home teachers, and so on- in fact we made 28 jars in all! They turned out so cute and we made a jar of them into the s'mores last night for the missionaries and they were very tasty. So thanks Mandy for pointing them out to me! Now go and do some more jumping jacks and march around the room- we want that baby here!!